In The Testaments, the sequel series to The Handmaid’s Tale, Agnes (Chase Infiniti) grows up at a school for Pearl Girls in Gilead run by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and meets Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a newcomer from Canada who has chosen to give up her old life, as they begin to learn what’s actually true about the world around them.
Awards Buzz spoke with Dowd about the chance to keep playing this character after more than a decade with her:
“The good news is that I love her very much, and so it’s a wonderful experience to know her for six years of Handmaid’s Tale. Beautifully written. I mean, how lucky can you get? It’s a privilege and I am wildly grateful, and then, on top of that, to come into The Testaments. Perfect. Love it. I think she’s changed. It’s still Lydia for sure, but she’s she made the decision to change her life after being brought to her knees and begging for forgiveness at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale. She made the choice in between The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments to change who she is fundamentally, to take a real look at who she is, not who she thought she is, was. So when we see her in The Testaments, I would say she is a gentler person. Her focus is on the young girls of high commanders, Pearl Girls. Her love of the girls, still the same. Establishing an academy that will train them to be wonderful wives and homemakers and mothers and hostesses. You know, there’s no math, there’s no writing, there’s no reading, so let’s get real on that. But they don’t know that. That’s not something they’re familiar with.”
Her advice to those coming to this show expecting the same thing they’ve seen already is simple:
“I say, all right darlings, it’s quite all right. Take a deep breath, here now. It’s going to be an easier watch for you. You will remain fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and you will love coming to know The Testaments.”
Watch the video above to hear what qualities she admires most about Lydia and what questions she still has about her backstory.
The Testaments premieres on Wednesday, April 8th, with new episodes dropping weekly through the season finale on May 27th.
